Phenom Hoops traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana to conduct the inaugural Indiana Top 80 and the event was a huge success.
Phenom Hoops traveled to Indianapolis, Indiana to conduct the inaugural Indiana Top 80 and the event was a huge success. Leading the way were the players that are already on the national radar. We will be writing articles throughout the week, but today we are going to take a closer look at the impact players.
Wilkes leads the way
6’8 ’17 Kris Wilkes of North Central High is a household name on the national recruiting circuit and he only solidified his status as an elite level player. As a matter of fact, it is an easy argument that Wilkes is the best player in the state regardless of class.
At the Indiana Top 80, Wilkes came away with the Indiana Mr. Top 80 award and averaged over 30 PPG in three games. The long, lanky and super talented wing has advanced ball handling and passing skills for his size/position. He was phenomenal in transition as he punished the rims time and time again at rival Lawrence Central High School. Wilkes has a really quick first step and is terrific off the bounce. We were impressed with his fluidness throughout the day.
The soft-spoken Wilkes has a quiet verbal approach to the game, but his production on the court speaks volume. Wilkes stated he will be visiting Kentucky and Indiana soon and lists Butler as a school he likes as well. Currently, there are no favorites for his services, but the recruitment for Wilkes will be one of area importance.
Kyle Guy the playmaker
6’2 ’16 Kyle Guy of Lawrence Central High School is the consummate basketball player. As we have stated previous times, Guy may not pass the “look test” if he stepped off the team bus, but once he steps onto the court, that perception is quickly erased.
The game comes so easy to Guy and at times he seems to be “toying” around with his advanced skill set on the court. It has been noted that one of his strongest attributes is his ability to score from the perimeter. However, at the Indiana Top 80, we were impressed with his ability to see the court. While he did enjoy a good day of scoring, it was his passing and playmaking ability that impressed most of all.
He possesses such a high basketball IQ and often sees plays in advance. There are not many guards in his class that has such a complete and understand of the game as Kyle Guy!
The Sky’s the limit
6’9 ’17 Jaren Jackson of Park Tudor High School is just starting to scratch the surface on his long range potential.
Jackson stands an extremely long 6’9 and sports an impressive 7’3 wingspan. He is young for his grade and could easily be in the 2018 class rather than the 2017 class. In addition, he wears a size 17 shoe and don’t be surprised to see Jackson grow a few more inches during the next two years.
Defensively, Jackson is excellent protecting the rim. He has impeccable timing in blocking shots in the post and understands weak side help. Offensively, Jackson can score from all levels on the court and in one game, he knocked down three 3-pointers. He has a soft shooting touch and enjoys playing on the perimeter. The run/jump face athlete should see his stock explode this year. We strongly feel he is somewhat undervalued on a national level. That should change this coming season.
Rock steady
6’10 ’16 Joey Brunk of Southport HS (Butler) is one of the more fundamentally “bigs” in the country. Brunk has excellent hands and nifty footwork in the paint.
While he may not overwhelm you with athleticism, it is his overall knowledge and skill set that allows him to be so effective. Offensively, Brunk has a soft shooting touch and utilizes the pump fakes and up and under moves to his advantage. He’s crafty around the rim and understands the game. We were impressed with his blocking out ability and rebounds with two hands making quick outlet passes. Brunk runs the floor extremely well and there may not be a more cerebral big in the country. He’s the perfect fit for Butler!